Slag removing and indicating mechanism for open-hearth furnaces.



W ,A. KOSINSKI. v SLAG REMOVING AND INDIGATING MEGHANISM FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1914.

m d S .w 5 N\ m N s v I R I P r I kw LET VV/EMVVVV/V/ 2/2m g m lv lil J M- /ZZZ Z x e m 1 MY w Z 2/ 42 w 9 3 m m c 1 M W. A. KOSJINSKI. SLAG REMOVING AND INDIGATING MECHANISM FOR OPEN HBARTH FURNACES. APPLIUATIO N FILED JULY 7, 1914. 1,1 33,975. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

6 Lid-owns W. A. KOSINSKI. SLAG REMOVING AND INDIOATING MBGHLNISM FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1914.

1,1 33,975. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W A. KOSINSKI. SLAG REMOVING AND mmcmme MECHANISM FOR OPEN HEARTH FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I, 1914.

1,1 33,975. Patented Mar. 30,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

after/new W. A. KOSINSKI. v SLAG REMOVING AND INDIGATING MECHANISM FOR OPEN HBARTH FURNACES.

rruonzon rum: JULY 7, 1914/ 1,1 33,975. Patented Mar. 30,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

amemtd'a WLA 195111115216 1; wdwwoeo f WALTER A. KOSINSKI, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SLAG REMOVING AND INDICATING MECHANISM FOR OPEN-HEABTH FURNACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed July 7, 1914. Serial No. 849,537.

- 1'0 QM whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. Kosmsnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Slag Removing and Indicating Mechanism for Open-Hearth Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to slag removing and indicating mechanism for open hearth steel furnaces.

@ne object of my invention is to provide means for circulating water through the slag box to keep the slag free and clear for discharge, for maintaining the water at a predetermined level, and for indicating when the level of the water is above or be-" low normal in order that corrective measures may be taken.

Another object of theinvention is to provide means for breaking up and discharging the slag accumulating in the slag box at predetermined intervals.

Still another object of the invention is to provide slag clearing and discharging means which will operate in a reliable and efficient manner. together with means for indicating the positions of the same from without the slag box, so that a series of clearers within the respective slag boxes of furnaces may be operated and controlled with certainty and precision.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fur-- nacc and slag remhving apparatus embodying my invention, showing the general arrangement of parts. view of the slag box, showing the internal parts in normal or inactive position. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view thereof, showing the internal parts in a determined working position. Figs. 4 and 5are vertical longitudinal sections through the slag box with the parts arranged as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Fig. (3 is a front view of the guide frame or tower, showing also diagrammatically the electric indicating and operating devices. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section through the float box and float. Fig. 9*is a vertical Fig. 2 is a top plan.

transverse section of the same. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a feature of construc tion.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a steel furnace of the open-hearth type, and 2 one of the slag pockets thereof with which communicates a slag box or receptacle 3. T his slag box' or receptacle is preferably of oblong rectangular form and communicates at itstop, between its end portions 4: and 5,

with the bottom of the pocket 2. The end portions l and 5 of the slag box are contract- 'ed by sloping bottom portions 6 and 7, and

above the bottom wall 6 the inner or forward end of the box is provided with a bridge portion '7, while adjacent its rear end the box is also provided with a bridge portion 8. The bridge portion '7 closes the upper front portion of the box, which is embedded in the brick work 8' of the bridge wall of the slag pocket, while the bridge 8 closes the upper portion of the box at a point where the rear end-of the box extends outwardly through the rear wall 9 of the furnace. Between the bridge portions 7 and 8 the top of the box is open, as shown at 10, for the reception of the slag or ashes deposited in the pocket 2, the said slag or ashes being discharged at the rear of the box through an outlet 11. v

In practice, the box 3 is kept filled with water, supplied under a predetermined pressure, up to the level .of the line of the bottom surfaces of the bridge'portions 7" and 8,

wvhereby. the slag or ashes fallinginto the will be prevented and the discharge of the slag facilitated. A water feed pipe 12 is provided for supplying water under, say, twenty pounds pressure, to an inlet nozzle 13 arranged within the contracted forward end of the box, while a drain pipe 14: communicating with a drain nozzle 15 beneath the bridge 8 adjacent the rear end of the box is provided to allow the overflow water to discharge; By this means the pockets are ordinarily kept filled to a predetermined level and the excess water allowed to flow off, thus establishing a slow circulation of the water by whichtheheavier particles of theashes or slag are prevented from'being precipitated to the bottom of'the box. 1

For the purpose. of indicating at a His tance the level of the water in the box, when the water rises above or below the normal level, I provide suitable indicating means. As shown in the present instance the waste or drain pipe 14 communicates with a sewer or other final drain outlet 16 while at a suitable point within the pipe'14 is provided a water box or chamber 17 within which is I arranged a float 18. The float preferably comprises a hollow body having an upwardly extending guide member 19 movable vertically in a guide slot20 in the top of the box 17 and carrying at its upper end a contact piece or switch member 21. suitably secured to said guide member and insulated therefrom, as shown at 22. The, contact piece'or switch member 21 is movable vertically between the upper and lower sets of contacts 23 and 23 and 24 and 24, the contacts 23 and 24 being connected with the proximate ends of conductors 25 and 26, while the contacts 23 and 24 are connected with a conductor 27. The conductors 25, 26 and 27 lead from the said contacts to a signal board 28, located at anyde'sired distance from the furnace and form part of an alarm circuit including a bell 29 and high and low water lamps 30 and 31, together with a battery or other suitable source of electric energy 32. The conductors 25 and 26 form one side of the circuit, and the conductor 27 the opposite side thereof, and-at the switch board the adjacent'ends of the said conductors 25 and 26 are connected by a bridge or loop 33 which is connected between the lamps 30 and 31 by a conductorv 34 with one of the binding posts of the magnet of the bell 29, to the other binding'postof which the conductor 27 is connected. WVhen the water in the slag or box is at the normal level,.the float 18 occupies a normal .position in the box 17 in which the'contact v is caused to glow and the bell.29. sounded,

giving warning of the high condition, thereby giving a warning and signal that a high water condition exists. WVhen however, the water in the slag box falls below the predetermined level, the float will descend and the contact piece 21 will engage the contacts 24 and 24' and establish a circuit through the conductor 26, lamp 31, conductor 34 and bell 29, thereby v giving a warning of the low condition of the water: The operator is therefore automatically advised when the water rises or falls above or belowlthe proper level, so that he may take 7 and connected at its outer or rear end with the rod or stem 37 of a' piston 38 movable within a fluid pressure cylinder 39. To the ends of this cylinder areconnect'edpipes 40 and 41 adapted to serve alternately as supply and discharge pipes for the fluid pressure medium, such as water, which are adapted to be alternately and simultaneously connected withfeed and discharge pipes 42 and 43 by means of a suitablevalve mechanism 44 which may be operated to cause the fluid pressure to flow through the pipe 40 to the cylinderand exhaust to take place from the cylinder through the pipe 41, and vice versa, thereby allowing the plungerrod 35 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly within the. slagabox. 1

pipes Disposed within the slagbox is a rabble or rake 45, comprising a plate carryih g'a.

central rib 46 .to which is pivoted an elbow link 47 and a gravity latch 48, said latch having a beveled end portion 49 and a hook or shoulder to engage a lug or projection 50 on the link 47. The link is bifurcated at its point of connection with the rope 46 so that the rabble or rake may assume a downturned or normally horizontal position within the box, while adapting-it to be held in a vertical or upright position by engagement of the latch 48 with the locking shoulder or lug 50. Normally the rabble or rake is disposed in a horizontal position atthe.,for-

wardend of the slag box, into which it,is permitted to tilt through the medium of the pivotal connection formed by' the link be tween said rake and'the plungerrod 35, in which position the rake is inoperative and does notinterfere with the free flow of the water or the outward travel of particles of the slag or ashes. When the rake is disposed in a vertical position and is locked by the latch 48 to the link 47, said rake will be coupled to the rod 35 for outward movement therewith to force and discharge the slag or ashes toward and outward through the outlet-11; An inclined trip 51 is disposed at the limit of outward movement of the latch member 48 for engagement with the beveled nose 49 of said latch member,

whereby the latch member is retracted,

allowing the rake 45 to tilt downwardly and rearwardly to normal position so that said rake may move backwardly .to a returned position without disturbing" the body of water or slag to any material degree.

Arranged within the contracted forward a normal osition by springs 54. This shear is recessed or cut away, as at 55, for the passage of a rope or cable '56 attached at one end to the bottom or lower edge of the rake 45, similar cables .57 being attached whereby the latter may be moved rear d y against springs '54. The cable passes around a guide pulley 58 disposed in advance of the shear, and thence extends backwardly through the box to the rear end thereof in parallel relation to the cables 57, which cables 56 and 57 thence pass respectively around guide pulleys 59 and 60 and out-- wardly through the outlet 11, a recess 61 being provided in the-rabble or rake for the passage of said cables when the rake is in upright position which recess permits the rake to be swung between the vertical and horizontal without interference from the cables, as will be readily nderstood The function of the shear is to serve as an auxiliary rake or clearing device whereby the slag or ashes collecting under the bridge 7 may be loosened up and forced out from beneath said bridge and into the path of the rake for discharge by the latter.

Arranged at a suitable point exteriorly of the vfurnace is a frame ortower 62 provided with suitable guideways (58 and 64 in which travel. controlling weights or carriages v 65 and 66. These carriages are respectively attached to the outer ends of the cables 56 and 57 which depend from and pass around guide pulleys 5S and 59 at. the top of the tower. The carriage 65 carries an armature 1 plate 67 for cooperation with an electromagnet ('38, disposed at the base of the guides way 6 1, while the carriage 66 is coupled to an operating or controllingdevice compris ing a piston 69 movable within a fiuid pressure cylinder 70 having a combined inlet and outlet 71. outlet 71 is a valve casing 72 communicating with fluid feed discharge'pipes 73 and 7:1 and containing arotary valve 75 movable to diiierent positions to control communication between the connection 71 and .pipe 73 or between said connect on 71=and the pipe The valve stem is provided with a crankarm TG to which is connected a spring 7"?- operating to normally hold the valve in the second-named position, and said crank arm is also connected with themovable :core .oir':

a solenoid T 8. A portion of the guideway 63 includes a conductorbar or rail 79. suitably insulated from the frame structure aIld gL v i ically connect-ed with a contact sh 8Q.

carried by and insulated irioin the car} riage'65.

' I'lhe bar or rail 7 9 is included in an indi eating circuit comprising niai'n conductors 82 and 83leading from the signal amass and connectedwith asuriteble source of cur rent supply, One i .ci" tine-sc conductors, nameiy' the conductor 82, is connected with Connected with said inlet and,

; pipe T l. I

then the valve-'44 is operated to con} the rail 79 and one pole of the magnet 68, with the opposite pole of which is connected a conductor 83, leading to one of the poles of the magnet 78, from the opposite pole of which leads a conductor 84: to a contact plate 85. The contact plate 85 is arranged in proximity to the magnet 68 and below a series of contacts 86, 87, 88, 89 and 90, any suitable number of which may be employed, which contact plates are respectively connected by conductors 86, 87, 88, 89', and 90, connected in parallel at the signal board with a bridge 91 connected with the main.

conductor 81, in which branches are arranged signal lamps 86, ST 88 89 and 90 disposed in superposed relation to correspend with the relative positions of the con tacts 86 to 90, inclusive. As shown, the conductor bar or rail 79 is arranged for engagementat all times with the contact shoe 80, and also, as shown, the contact plates 85 to 90, inclusive are connected with each other and with the conductor 81 by a conductor 81%. The contact'90 is also connected with the main conductor 81, and also connected with said main conductor 81 is a conductor 92 leading to a contact 93 adapted to be engaged. by a switch member 9-1' connected with a conductor 95 connected with the bridge 91 and containing a signal lamp 96,

said switch member 9% being movable to closed position by the action 01' a weight or carriage 66 when'the latter is in a stated par sition. v

When the parts are in their nerinali' positions the carriage 2 is at the limit of its downward travel with its contact shoeSO disposed below and out of engagement with the contactplat'e 86 and the armature plate 67 resting upon the magnet 68, while the carriage 66 and the piston 69 are at the limit of their upward movements and the valve 75 connectsthei-cylinder fl) with the outlet nect the source of fluid pressure supply through the pipe ll with the inner end of the cylinder. 8, and t'o'oonnect the outer end of said cylinder through the. pipe; 40 exhaust pipe as, the fluid pressure entering the Within said oylinder. ',Thei plunger rod 35 cyl der will .force the piston outwardly i.

will thereuponibe drawn uponto slide the rakeAS outward. f 'Thefrakeduring the first; portion of itsoutward movement-Will draw u on the cable 56, whereby the car'riage 65 i \ivill beelevated s'ufiiciently to bring the shoe 80 into. engagement with-the contact 85, whereupon 1a circuitwill be established through the, or' rail ?9,"shoe 80 contact 85, eonductorfid, magnesia, {1911611185 whereby the mag- I act the tor .88 and, sender net mainfluid pressure from the pipe'73 to the cylin- ,tically and the link horizontally disposed,

the latch 48 thereupon engaging the lug by gravity and rigidlyjlocking the rake to the plunger rod. At thesame time that the magnet 68 is energized the magnet 78 is energized so that its core will swing the crank arm 76 downward and tension the spring 77 thus opening the valve 75 for the flow of der 70 to force the piston 69 downward, whereby the carriage 66 in forced downward, thus drawing on the cables 57 to swing the shear 52 outward and tension the springs 54 for the subsequent return of said shear to normal position. ward movement the carriage 66 will throw the switch 94 into engagement with the contact 93 thus closing a circuit through the conductors 92 and 95 to light the lamp On its down- 96, indicating that the above described movements of the rake and shear have taken place. The rake when thus moved upwardly is disposed to sweep the slag or ashes toward the outer end of the slag pockets and as itnoves rearwardly carries the slag witit and discharges the same througn Zhe outlet 11. 'VVhen the latch 48 fixes the rake in a vertical position to the rod 35 and the rake moves outward the cable .56 is positively pulled to elevate the carriage 65 against the resistance of the magnet 68, and upon the passage of the shoe 80 out of contact with the plate 65 the magnets 68 and 78 are de'elnergized, the spring 77 thereupon returning the valve 75 to closed or exhaust position, while the springs 54 return the shear 52 to normal position, whereby the cables 57 are drawn upon to again lift the carriage 66, which releasesthe switch 54, whereupon the lamp 96 ceases to glow. The carriage 65 on the outward travel of the rake is gradually moved upward and at different points in its path of travel the shoe 80 engages the con- I tact plates 86, 87, 88, 89 and 90 and sucv and 90, indicating at the switch board the cessively lights the lamps 862-872 88, 89

positions of the rake in its course of travel if within the slag box. When the rake reaches the limit of its outward movement, as sh own bythe glow of the lamp 90, the beveled nose 49 of the latch 48 comes in contact 1 with the trip 51 which releases the latch.

and to connect the pipe 40 with the feed to a horizontal or folded and inoperative position is moved backward to its original position at the inner end of the slag box, and the carriage 65 continues to descend until it returns to its normal position origi- I nally described, the shoe in its descent engaging the contact plates and lighting the lamps upon the switch board in inverse order. In thus returning or moving back in' a horizontal or edgewise position the rake moves with a minimum of resistance through the water, thus avoiding agitation of the water and precipitation of the heavier particles of the remaining ashes therein. When the lamp 86 finally glows the operator after a short interval moves the. valve 44 to neutral position, thus'cutting OK the flow of fluid pressure to-the outer end of the cylinder 38, whereupon the parts of the apparatus will be disposed in normal position, with the fluid pressure cut oil, ready for repetition of the above described operation. It will be understood that the raking operation may be carried out as often as desired or whenever necessary for the removal of the slag or ashes to prevent the same from accumulating unduly in the slag pcket and injuring or interfering with the proper operation of the furnace. 'It will also be understood that the signalmechanism described allows the slag .removing elements to be operated at a distance fromthe furnace.

If desired, the valve or valves 44 may be operated automatically by a suitable mechanical means at' timed intervals. -By the use of a water filled slag box, the slag is Other advantages of-the invention will be apparent to those versed in the art.

I claim j Y 1. In afurnace of the character described, a slag boX, means for supplying water there:

to and maintaining the water at a pred'etermined 'level therein, a slag discharging rake movable longitudinally within the box,

said rake being adjustable to a vertical position on its discharge motion and'to a hori-' zontal position on its return motion, and

means for operating and adjusting said rake.

2. In a furnace ofthe character described,

a slag box, a slag discharging rake movable longitudinally within the box, a shear arranged within the box, and means for actuating the shear and ralre.

3. In a furnace of the character described, a slag box, means for supplying water thereto and maintaining a predetermined water level therein, a slag discharging rake movable longitudinally within the box, a slag shear within the box, and means for actuating the rake and shear.

-l. in a furnace of the character described, a slag hon, aralre disposed within and movable longitudinally of-the box, said rake being adjustable to a vertical position on its discharge motion and to a horizontal position on its return motion, a sheer within the box, means for operating and adjusting the rake, and ineanscontrolled by the rake for actuating the shear. l 1

o. In a furnace of the character described, a slag box, means for maintaining a predetermined water level therein, a plunger rod movable longitudinally within the box, means for actuating the same, a rake pivotally connected with the rod for adjustment to a vertical position on its discharge motion and to a horizontal position on its return motion, a latch for holding the rake in vertical position, means for shifting the rake to a vertical position on its discharge motion, and means for releasing the latch and returning the rake to horizontal position on its return motion.

6. In a furnace of the character described, aslag box, means for maintaining a predetermined water level therein, amovably mounted shear at the inner end of the slag box, means for maintaining the same in an inoperative position, a rake movable longitudinally within the box, said rake being adjustable to a vertical position on its discharge motion to a horizontal position on its return motion, means for operating the rake and adjusting the same as described, and means operative on the discharge motion of the rake to actuate the shear,

fiopiez of this patent may as obtained for a vertical position, means for retracting the latch at the limit of discharge motion of the rake, Whereby' the weighted element is adapted to return the rake to a horizontal position, and means controlled by the weighted element for indicating the positio'ns of the rake within the slag box.

8. In a furnace of the character described, aslag box, a rake longitudinally movable therein and adjustable between the vertical and horizontal, means for shifting the rake backward and forward, means including a weighted traveling element for adjusting the rake, and an electrically indicating means controlled by said traveling element for indicating the position of the rake.-

9. In a furnace of the character described, a slag box, a rake movable longitudinally therein and adjustable between the vertical and the horizontal, means for moving the rake backward and forward in the slag box, means including a weighted element for adjusting the rake, electrically indicating means controlled by the weighted element for indicating the position of the rake With in the box, a shear within the box normally maintained in an inoperative position, and an electromechanical means controlled by the aforesaid weighted element for actuating said shear.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER A. KOSINSKI. Witnesses:

GEORGE Scrro'rr, Louis A. ZUGHOWSKI.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

washingon, B. 3. 

